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Rykaczewska U, Zhao Q, Saliba-Gustafsson P, Lengquist M, Kronqvist M, Bergman O, Huang Z, Lund K, Waden K, Pons Vila Z, Caidahl K, Skogsberg J, Vukojevic V, Lindeman JHN, Roy J, Hansson GK, Treuter E, Leeper NJ, Eriksson P, Ehrenborg E, Razuvaev A, Hedin U, Matic L. Plaque Evaluation by Ultrasound and Transcriptomics Reveals BCLAF1 as a Regulator of Smooth Muscle Cell Lipid Transdifferentiation in Atherosclerosis. Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol 2022; 42:659-676. [PMID: 35321563 DOI: 10.1161/atvbaha.121.317018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Understanding the processes behind carotid plaque instability is necessary to develop methods for identification of patients and lesions with stroke risk. Here, we investigated molecular signatures in human plaques stratified by echogenicity as assessed by duplex ultrasound. METHODS Lesion echogenicity was correlated to microarray gene expression profiles from carotid endarterectomies (n=96). The findings were extended into studies of human and mouse atherosclerotic lesions in situ, followed by functional investigations in vitro in human carotid smooth muscle cells (SMCs). RESULTS Pathway analyses highlighted muscle differentiation, iron homeostasis, calcification, matrix organization, cell survival balance, and BCLAF1 (BCL2 [B-cell lymphoma 2]-associated transcription factor 1) as the most significant signatures. BCLAF1 was downregulated in echolucent plaques, positively correlated to proliferation and negatively to apoptosis. By immunohistochemistry, BCLAF1 was found in normal medial SMCs. It was repressed early during atherogenesis but reappeared in CD68+ cells in advanced plaques and interacted with BCL2 by proximity ligation assay. In cultured SMCs, BCLAF1 was induced by differentiation factors and mitogens and suppressed by macrophage-conditioned medium. BCLAF1 silencing led to downregulation of BCL2 and SMC markers, reduced proliferation, and increased apoptosis. Transdifferentiation of SMCs by oxLDL (oxidized low-denisty lipoprotein) was accompanied by upregulation of BCLAF1, CD36, and CD68, while oxLDL exposure with BCLAF1 silencing preserved MYH (myosin heavy chain) 11 expression and prevented transdifferentiation. BCLAF1 was associated with expression of cell differentiation, contractility, viability, and inflammatory genes, as well as the scavenger receptors CD36 and CD68. BCLAF1 expression in CD68+/BCL2+ cells of SMC origin was verified in plaques from MYH11 lineage-tracing atherosclerotic mice. Moreover, BCLAF1 downregulation associated with vulnerability parameters and cardiovascular risk in patients with carotid atherosclerosis. CONCLUSIONS Plaque echogenicity correlated with enrichment of distinct molecular pathways and identified BCLAF1, previously not described in atherosclerosis, as the most significant gene. Functionally, BCLAF1 seems necessary for survival and transdifferentiation of SMCs into a macrophage-like phenotype. The role of BCLAF1 in plaque vulnerability should be further evaluated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Urszula Rykaczewska
- Division of Vascular Surgery, Department of Molecular Medicine and Surgery (U.R., M.L., M.K., K.L., K.W., K.C., J.R., A.R., U.H., L.M.), Karolinska Institutet and Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Quanyi Zhao
- Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Cardiovascular Institute (Q.Z., P.S.-G.), Stanford University School of Medicine, CA
| | - Peter Saliba-Gustafsson
- Cardiovascular Medicine Unit, Department of Medicine, Center for Molecular Medicine (P.S.-G., O.B., G.K.H., P.E., E.E.), Karolinska Institutet and Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden.,Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Cardiovascular Institute (Q.Z., P.S.-G.), Stanford University School of Medicine, CA
| | - Mariette Lengquist
- Division of Vascular Surgery, Department of Molecular Medicine and Surgery (U.R., M.L., M.K., K.L., K.W., K.C., J.R., A.R., U.H., L.M.), Karolinska Institutet and Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Malin Kronqvist
- Division of Vascular Surgery, Department of Molecular Medicine and Surgery (U.R., M.L., M.K., K.L., K.W., K.C., J.R., A.R., U.H., L.M.), Karolinska Institutet and Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Otto Bergman
- Cardiovascular Medicine Unit, Department of Medicine, Center for Molecular Medicine (P.S.-G., O.B., G.K.H., P.E., E.E.), Karolinska Institutet and Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Zhiqiang Huang
- Department of Biosciences and Nutrition (Z.H., E.T.), Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Kent Lund
- Division of Vascular Surgery, Department of Molecular Medicine and Surgery (U.R., M.L., M.K., K.L., K.W., K.C., J.R., A.R., U.H., L.M.), Karolinska Institutet and Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Katarina Waden
- Division of Vascular Surgery, Department of Molecular Medicine and Surgery (U.R., M.L., M.K., K.L., K.W., K.C., J.R., A.R., U.H., L.M.), Karolinska Institutet and Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Zara Pons Vila
- Clinical Chemistry and Blood Coagulation, Department of Molecular Medicine and Surgery (Z.P.V.), Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Kenneth Caidahl
- Division of Vascular Surgery, Department of Molecular Medicine and Surgery (U.R., M.L., M.K., K.L., K.W., K.C., J.R., A.R., U.H., L.M.), Karolinska Institutet and Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden.,Department of Clinical Physiology, Sahlgrenska University Hospital and Molecular and Clinical Medicine, University of Gothenburg, Sweden (K.C.)
| | - Josefin Skogsberg
- Department of Medical Biochemistry and Biophysics (J.S.), Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Vladana Vukojevic
- Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Center for Molecular Medicine (V.V.), Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Jan H N Lindeman
- Department of Vascular Surgery, Leiden University Medical Center, the Netherlands (J.H.N.L.)
| | - Joy Roy
- Division of Vascular Surgery, Department of Molecular Medicine and Surgery (U.R., M.L., M.K., K.L., K.W., K.C., J.R., A.R., U.H., L.M.), Karolinska Institutet and Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Göran K Hansson
- Cardiovascular Medicine Unit, Department of Medicine, Center for Molecular Medicine (P.S.-G., O.B., G.K.H., P.E., E.E.), Karolinska Institutet and Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Eckardt Treuter
- Department of Biosciences and Nutrition (Z.H., E.T.), Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Nicholas J Leeper
- Department of Surgery (N.J.L.), Stanford University School of Medicine, CA.,Department of Medicine (N.J.L.), Stanford University School of Medicine, CA
| | - Per Eriksson
- Cardiovascular Medicine Unit, Department of Medicine, Center for Molecular Medicine (P.S.-G., O.B., G.K.H., P.E., E.E.), Karolinska Institutet and Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Ewa Ehrenborg
- Cardiovascular Medicine Unit, Department of Medicine, Center for Molecular Medicine (P.S.-G., O.B., G.K.H., P.E., E.E.), Karolinska Institutet and Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Anton Razuvaev
- Division of Vascular Surgery, Department of Molecular Medicine and Surgery (U.R., M.L., M.K., K.L., K.W., K.C., J.R., A.R., U.H., L.M.), Karolinska Institutet and Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Ulf Hedin
- Division of Vascular Surgery, Department of Molecular Medicine and Surgery (U.R., M.L., M.K., K.L., K.W., K.C., J.R., A.R., U.H., L.M.), Karolinska Institutet and Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Ljubica Matic
- Division of Vascular Surgery, Department of Molecular Medicine and Surgery (U.R., M.L., M.K., K.L., K.W., K.C., J.R., A.R., U.H., L.M.), Karolinska Institutet and Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
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Raet1e Polymorphisms Are Associated with Increased Risk of Developing Premature Coronary Artery Disease and with Some Cardiometabolic Parameters: The GEA Mexican Study. Mediators Inflamm 2018; 2018:1847696. [PMID: 30662365 PMCID: PMC6312582 DOI: 10.1155/2018/1847696] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/04/2018] [Revised: 10/28/2018] [Accepted: 11/12/2018] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
In an animal model, new evidence has been reported supporting the role of raet1e as an atherosclerosis-associated gene. Our objective was to establish if raet1e polymorphisms are associated with the risk of developing premature coronary artery disease (CAD) or with the presence of cardiometabolic parameters. After an informatic analysis, five polymorphisms were chosen and determined in 1158 patients with premature CAD and 1104 controls using 5′ exonuclease TaqMan genotyping assays. Standardized questionnaires were applied to all participants to obtain family medical history, demographic information, history of nutritional habits, physical activity, alcohol consumption, and pharmacological treatment. The functional effect of the rs7756850 polymorphism was analyzed by luciferase assays. Under different models, adjusted by age, gender, body mass index, current smoking, and type 2 diabetes mellitus, the rs6925151 (OR = 1.250, pheterozygote = 0.026; OR = 1.268, pcodominant1 = 0.034), rs9371533 (OR = 1.255, pheterozygote = 0.024), rs7756850 (OR = 1.274, pheterozygote = 0.016; OR = 1.294, pcodominant1 = 0.031), and rs9383921 (OR = 1.232, pheterozygote = 0.037) polymorphisms were associated with increased risk of premature CAD. When compared to the rs7756850 G allele, the C allele showed a decreased luciferase activity. In premature CAD patients, associations with low levels of adiponectin, with a high presence of hypertension, and with high levels of gamma-glutamyltransferase and total cholesterol were observed. In healthy controls, associations with a decrease in LDL pattern B, aspartate aminotransaminase, and hypo-α-lipoproteinemia were detected. An association of the raet1e polymorphisms with an increased risk of developing premature CAD and with cardiometabolic parameters has been shown for the first time. In addition, the functional effect of the rs7756850 polymorphism was defined.
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Kayashima Y, Tomita H, Zhilicheva S, Kim S, Kim HS, Bennett BJ, Maeda N. Quantitative trait loci affecting atherosclerosis at the aortic root identified in an intercross between DBA2J and 129S6 apolipoprotein E-null mice. PLoS One 2014; 9:e88274. [PMID: 24586312 PMCID: PMC3930552 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0088274] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2013] [Accepted: 01/09/2014] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Apolipoprotein E-null mice on a DBA/2J genetic background (DBA-apoE) are highly susceptible to atherosclerosis in the aortic root area compared with those on a 129S6 background (129-apoE). To explore atherosclerosis-responsible genetic regions, we performed a quantitative trait locus (QTL) analysis using 172 male and 137 female F2 derived from an intercross between DBA-apoE and 129-apoE mice. A genome-wide scan identified two significant QTL for the size of lesions at the root: one is Ath44 on Chromosome (Chr) 1 at 158 Mb, and the other Ath45 on Chr 2 at 162 Mb. Ath44 co-localizes with but appears to be independent of a previously reported QTL, Ath1, while Ath45 is a novel QTL. DBA alleles of both Ath44 and Ath45 confer atherosclerosis-susceptibility. In addition, a QTL on Chr 14 at 73 Mb was found significant only in males, and 129 allele conferring susceptibility. Further analysis detected female-specific interactions between a second QTL on Chr 1 at 73 Mb and a QTL on Chr 3 at 21 Mb, and between Chr 7 at 84 Mb and Chr 12 at 77 Mb. These loci for the root atherosclerosis were independent of QTLs for plasma total cholesterol and QTLs for triglycerides, but a QTL for HDL (Chr 1 at 126 Mb) overlapped with the Ath44. Notably, haplotype analysis among 129S6, DBA/2J and C57BL/6 genomes and their gene expression data narrowed the candidate regions for Ath44 and Ath45 to less than 5 Mb intervals where multiple genome wide associations with cardiovascular phenotypes have also been reported in humans. SNPs in or near Fmo3, Sele and Selp for Ath44, and Lbp and Pkig for Ath45 were suggested for further investigation as potential candidates underlying the atherosclerosis susceptibility.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yukako Kayashima
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States of America
| | - Hirofumi Tomita
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States of America
| | - Svetlana Zhilicheva
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States of America
| | - Shinja Kim
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States of America
| | - Hyung-Suk Kim
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States of America
| | - Brian J. Bennett
- Department of Genetics, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States of America
| | - Nobuyo Maeda
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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Okamoto R, Gery S, Gombart AF, Wang X, Castellani LW, Akagi T, Chen S, Arditi M, Ho Q, Lusis AJ, Li Q, Koeffler HP. Deficiency of CCAAT/enhancer binding protein-epsilon reduces atherosclerotic lesions in LDLR-/- mice. PLoS One 2014; 9:e85341. [PMID: 24489659 PMCID: PMC3904867 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0085341] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2013] [Accepted: 12/04/2013] [Indexed: 01/23/2023] Open
Abstract
The CCAAT/enhancer binding proteins (C/EBPs) are transcription factors involved in hematopoietic cell development and induction of several inflammatory mediators. C/EBPε is expressed only in myeloid cells including monocytes/macrophages. Atherosclerosis is an inflammatory disorder of the vascular wall and circulating immune cells such as monocytes/macrophages. Mice deficient in the low density lipoprotein (LDL) receptor (Ldlr−/−) fed on a high cholesterol diet (HCD) show elevated blood cholesterol levels and are widely used as models to study human atherosclerosis. In this study, we generated Ldlr and Cebpe double-knockout (llee) mice and compared their atherogenic phenotypes to Ldlr single deficient (llEE) mice after HCD. Macrophages from llee mice have reduced lipid uptake by foam cells and impaired phagokinetic motility in vitro compared to macrophages from llEE mice. Also, compared to llEE mice, llee mice have alterations of lipid metabolism, and reduced atheroma and obesity, particularly the males. Peritoneal macrophages of llee male mice have reduced mRNA expression of FABP4, a fatty acid binding protein implicated in atherosclerosis. Overall, our study suggests that the myeloid specific factor C/EBPε is involved in systemic lipid metabolism and that silencing of C/EBPε could decrease the development of atherosclerosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ryoko Okamoto
- Division of Hematology and Oncology, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) School of Medicine, Los Angeles, California, United States of America
| | - Sigal Gery
- Division of Hematology and Oncology, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) School of Medicine, Los Angeles, California, United States of America
- * E-mail:
| | - Adrian F. Gombart
- Division of Hematology and Oncology, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) School of Medicine, Los Angeles, California, United States of America
- Department of Biochemisty and Biophysics, Linus Pauling Institute, Oregon State University, Corvallis, Oregon, United States of America
| | - Xuping Wang
- Department of Human Genetics, Department of Medicine, and Department of Microbiology, Molecular Genetics, and Immunology, David Geffen School of Medicine at University of California Los Angeles (UCLA), Los Angeles, California, United States of America
| | - Lawrence W. Castellani
- Department of Medicine/Division of Cardiology, David Geffen School of Medicine at University of California Los Angeles (UCLA), Los Angeles, California, United States of America
| | - Tadayuki Akagi
- Division of Hematology and Oncology, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) School of Medicine, Los Angeles, California, United States of America
| | - Shuang Chen
- Division of Pediatric Infectious Diseases and Immunology, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, California, United States of America
| | - Moshe Arditi
- Division of Pediatric Infectious Diseases and Immunology, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, California, United States of America
| | - Quoc Ho
- Division of Hematology and Oncology, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) School of Medicine, Los Angeles, California, United States of America
| | - Aldons J. Lusis
- Department of Human Genetics, Department of Medicine, and Department of Microbiology, Molecular Genetics, and Immunology, David Geffen School of Medicine at University of California Los Angeles (UCLA), Los Angeles, California, United States of America
| | - Quanlin Li
- Biostatistics and Bioinformatics Research Center, Samuel Oschin Comprehensive Cancer Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, California, United States of America
| | - H. Phillip Koeffler
- Division of Hematology and Oncology, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) School of Medicine, Los Angeles, California, United States of America
- Cancer Science Institute of Singapore and National Cancer Institute, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
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